Insights > Entergy Mississippi’s Excellerator Competitive Communities Program Needed Now More than Ever

Entergy Mississippi’s Excellerator Competitive Communities Program Needed Now More than Ever

06/18/2020

Entergy Mississippi's Excellerator grants are making the state's communities more competitive
Entergy Mississippi's Excellerator grants are making the state's communities more competitive

In its fourth year, the program awarded $100K-plus to nine organizations serving 16 counties

Four years ago, Entergy Mississippi launched a new program designed to help level the playing field for Mississippi communities that were too often edged out of the competition when companies looked to establish or expand their businesses.

Since then, the Excellerator Competitive Communities Program has awarded more than $375,000 to economic development groups in our service area.

During the current pandemic, the work these organizations do for their communities is more important than ever. And these grants are more vital than ever as we work to help Mississippi recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

We congratulate this year’s winning organizations for their efforts in marketing, site readiness and organizational excellence. They will share more than $100,000 in matching grants to improve the economic prospects of the 16 counties they serve.

The number of marketing grant applications shows that economic development organizations are enhancing the ways they promote their communities to site selectors.  Our marketing grant winners are:

  • Greater Jackson Alliance
  • Greater Grenada Partnership
  • Southwest Mississippi Partnership
  • Washington County Economic Alliance

Our site readiness grant recipients invest in site readiness activities that support industrial growth and sustainability. They are:

  • Claiborne County Economic Development District
  • Hinds County Economic Development Authority
  • Pike County Economic Development District
  • Warren County Partnership

The success of a community is dependent on the health and structure of its economic development organization. Our organizational excellence winners are:  

  • Washington County Economic Alliance
  • Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce

Along with assessments and grants, the Excellerator program offers training and workshops to all counties in Entergy’s service area. Our economic development team works with communities year-round to help prepare them for growth. We invest in our communities so customers can have opportunities without having to leave the state. We want people to stay and thrive right here in Mississippi.

Learn more about economic development at Entergy and key tools to help our communities grow at goentergy.com/our-region/mississippi/.


Ed Gardner
Director, Business & Economic Development, Entergy Mississippi